Question 1

Which of these kingdoms share a most recent, common ancestor?

Accepted Answer

A) Plantae and Fungi 
B) Plantae and Animalia 
C) Animalia and Protista 
D) Animal and Fungi

Question 2

Why might many new species form in the aftermath of a mass extinction?

Accepted Answer

A) Gene flow among the remaining species would be increased, giving rise to many new genetic recombinations. 
B) Changed environments and reduced competition would provide opportunities for new adaptations. 
C) New environments would increase mutation rates. 
D) Populations of remaining species would expand rapidly and reduce geographic isolation.

Question 3

If you are watching a fictional movie set in a land dominated by flowering plants, plus advancing and retreating glaciers and a cast that includes a human, a wooly mammoth, a saber-toothed cat, and dinosaurs, which characters would be most out of place in the setting according to the geological time line of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) the saber-toothed cat and the human 
B) the wooly mammoth and the human 
C) the saber-toothed cat and the dinosaurs 
D) the dinosaurs

Question 4

The figure below shows the number of living taxonomic families that existed on Earth during the last 540 million years. The sudden decreases in family numbers at 445, 360, 250, 200, and 65 million years ago represent Earth's five mass extinction events. Based on this data, which mass extinction had the biggest impact on the overall diversity of life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) 200 million years ago 
B) 250 million years ago 
C) 360 million years ago 
D) 445 million years ago

Question 5

Briefly explain how new scientific findings may change the arrangement of an evolutionary tree while enhancing our understanding of evolution.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Briefly explain how new scientific findings may...

Question 6

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period.
-Jurassic

Accepted Answer

A) repeated advance and retreat of glaciers; evolution of humans; extinction of large mammals and birds; 0-2.6 mya 
B) continents begin to separate; diverse dinosaurs; first birds; first flowering plants; 145-200 mya 
C) extensive forests; amphibians dominate life on land; increase in diversity of insects; first reptiles; 300-360 mya 
D) further increases in diversity of marine invertebrates and vertebrates; plants and fungi begin to colonize land; mass extinction at end of period; 445-490 mya 
E) origin of life; photosynthesis causes oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere to increase; first eukaryotes; first multicellular organisms; 540 mya-3.8 bya
F)continents near present positions; increased diversity of flowering plants, birds, mammals, and pollinating insects; 2.6-65 mya
G)early dinosaurs; first mammals; mass extinction at end of period; 200-250 mya
H)increase in diversity of land plants; first amphibians colonize land; mass extinction late in period; 360-415 mya
I)large and relatively sudden increase in the diversity of animal life; increase in diversity of algae; first vertebrates; 490-540 mya
J)flowering plants begin to dominate life on land; mass extinction at end of period, including extinction of the last dinosaurs; 65-145 mya
K)continents come together to form Pangaea; reptiles dominate life on land by 265 mya; mass extinction at end of period; 250-300 mya
L)increase in diversity of fishes; first hints of colonization of land by insects and other invertebrates; 415-445 mya

Question 7

Resolving the relationship between the various kingdoms has been challenging because species often resemble one another. For example, the kingdom ________ contains some organisms that are animal-like and others that are plantlike.

Accepted Answer

A) Bacteria 
B) Fungi 
C) Archaea 
D) Protista

Question 8

Early birds had small, thick skulls and two toes on each foot. Archaeopteryx had a long, almost pointy skull, and three toes on each foot. Early birds and Archaeopteryx shared the traits of feathers, clawed hands, and a long, bony tail. Examine the two trees presented in the figure below. Assuming that Xiaotingia shared traits with Archaeopteryx that neither of them shared with birds and looking only at the traits presented here, which of the trees shows the most likely relationship between these three animals? Support your answer by indicating which tree branch is initiated by which characteristic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Early birds had small, thick skulls and...

Question 9

Roughly 360 mya at the end of the ________ period, a mass extinction wiped out 30 percent of animal families, including many fishes and trilobites. The terrestrial animals at this time would have included ________.

Accepted Answer

A) Devonian; many insects, other invertebrates, and amphibians 
B) Cambrian; dinosaurs and mammals 
C) Silurian; mammals and humans 
D) Carboniferous; reptiles and humans

Question 10

The mass extinction at the end of the Ordovician period killed

Accepted Answer

A) 50 percent of marine animal families, including many trilobites. 
B) 50 percent of terrestrial and marine animal families, including many trilobites. 
C) 90 percent of terrestrial and marine animal families, and 100 percent of terrestrial plants. 
D) 100 percent of trilobites and 90 percent of terrestrial and marine animal families.

Question 11

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period.
-Silurian

Accepted Answer

A) repeated advance and retreat of glaciers; evolution of humans; extinction of large mammals and birds; 0-2.6 mya 
B) continents begin to separate; diverse dinosaurs; first birds; first flowering plants; 145-200 mya 
C) extensive forests; amphibians dominate life on land; increase in diversity of insects; first reptiles; 300-360 mya 
D) further increases in diversity of marine invertebrates and vertebrates; plants and fungi begin to colonize land; mass extinction at end of period; 445-490 mya 
E) origin of life; photosynthesis causes oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere to increase; first eukaryotes; first multicellular organisms; 540 mya-3.8 bya
F)continents near present positions; increased diversity of flowering plants, birds, mammals, and pollinating insects; 2.6-65 mya
G)early dinosaurs; first mammals; mass extinction at end of period; 200-250 mya
H)increase in diversity of land plants; first amphibians colonize land; mass extinction late in period; 360-415 mya
I)large and relatively sudden increase in the diversity of animal life; increase in diversity of algae; first vertebrates; 490-540 mya
J)flowering plants begin to dominate life on land; mass extinction at end of period, including extinction of the last dinosaurs; 65-145 mya
K)continents come together to form Pangaea; reptiles dominate life on land by 265 mya; mass extinction at end of period; 250-300 mya
L)increase in diversity of fishes; first hints of colonization of land by insects and other invertebrates; 415-445 mya

Question 12

When making sourdough bread, bakers use a combination of microorganisms to produce the sour flavor and to leaven the dough before baking. The organisms typically used to produce the lactic acid that give sourdough its distinctive flavor are very small rod-shaped prokaryotic organisms known generally as Lactobacilli. These microorganisms are from the kingdom ________. The other organisms that produce the leavening effect are nonphotosynthetic eukaryotes, have cell walls, absorb their nutrients from their environment, and (in this case) are very tolerant of acidic environments. These microorganisms are from the kingdom ________.

Accepted Answer

A) Bacteria; Fungi 
B) Plantae; Fungi 
C) Animalia; Bacteria 
D) Plantae; Bacteria

Question 13

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period.
-Quaternary

Accepted Answer

A) repeated advance and retreat of glaciers; evolution of humans; extinction of large mammals and birds; 0-2.6 mya 
B) continents begin to separate; diverse dinosaurs; first birds; first flowering plants; 145-200 mya 
C) extensive forests; amphibians dominate life on land; increase in diversity of insects; first reptiles; 300-360 mya 
D) further increases in diversity of marine invertebrates and vertebrates; plants and fungi begin to colonize land; mass extinction at end of period; 445-490 mya 
E) origin of life; photosynthesis causes oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere to increase; first eukaryotes; first multicellular organisms; 540 mya-3.8 bya
F)continents near present positions; increased diversity of flowering plants, birds, mammals, and pollinating insects; 2.6-65 mya
G)early dinosaurs; first mammals; mass extinction at end of period; 200-250 mya
H)increase in diversity of land plants; first amphibians colonize land; mass extinction late in period; 360-415 mya
I)large and relatively sudden increase in the diversity of animal life; increase in diversity of algae; first vertebrates; 490-540 mya
J)flowering plants begin to dominate life on land; mass extinction at end of period, including extinction of the last dinosaurs; 65-145 mya
K)continents come together to form Pangaea; reptiles dominate life on land by 265 mya; mass extinction at end of period; 250-300 mya
L)increase in diversity of fishes; first hints of colonization of land by insects and other invertebrates; 415-445 mya

Question 14

What criteria best characterize membership in the kingdom Protista?

Accepted Answer

A) a continuous lineage of descent from a common ancestor 
B) a large assortment of unique shared derived traits 
C) a common evolutionary heritage 
D) the inability to meet the characteristics that define each of the remaining eukaryotic kingdoms

Question 15

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period.
-Ordovician

Accepted Answer

A) repeated advance and retreat of glaciers; evolution of humans; extinction of large mammals and birds; 0-2.6 mya 
B) continents begin to separate; diverse dinosaurs; first birds; first flowering plants; 145-200 mya 
C) extensive forests; amphibians dominate life on land; increase in diversity of insects; first reptiles; 300-360 mya 
D) further increases in diversity of marine invertebrates and vertebrates; plants and fungi begin to colonize land; mass extinction at end of period; 445-490 mya 
E) origin of life; photosynthesis causes oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere to increase; first eukaryotes; first multicellular organisms; 540 mya-3.8 bya
F)continents near present positions; increased diversity of flowering plants, birds, mammals, and pollinating insects; 2.6-65 mya
G)early dinosaurs; first mammals; mass extinction at end of period; 200-250 mya
H)increase in diversity of land plants; first amphibians colonize land; mass extinction late in period; 360-415 mya
I)large and relatively sudden increase in the diversity of animal life; increase in diversity of algae; first vertebrates; 490-540 mya
J)flowering plants begin to dominate life on land; mass extinction at end of period, including extinction of the last dinosaurs; 65-145 mya
K)continents come together to form Pangaea; reptiles dominate life on land by 265 mya; mass extinction at end of period; 250-300 mya
L)increase in diversity of fishes; first hints of colonization of land by insects and other invertebrates; 415-445 mya

Question 16

Which of the following statements about bird evolution is NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

A) Scientific studies have revealed so many errors in the traditional dinosaur-bird evolutionary tree that none of it is considered useful to understanding the evolution of birds and flight. 
B) Scientific studies of the Xiaotingia fossil caused scientists to adjust the traditional dinosaur-bird evolutionary tree. 
C) Scientific comparisons of Archaeopteryx and Xiaotingia fossils caused scientists to adjust the traditional dinosaur-bird evolutionary tree. 
D) It is important to understand the dinosaur-bird evolutionary tree in order to have a better understanding of how flight evolved.

Question 17

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period.
-Carboniferous

Accepted Answer

A) repeated advance and retreat of glaciers; evolution of humans; extinction of large mammals and birds; 0-2.6 mya 
B) continents begin to separate; diverse dinosaurs; first birds; first flowering plants; 145-200 mya 
C) extensive forests; amphibians dominate life on land; increase in diversity of insects; first reptiles; 300-360 mya 
D) further increases in diversity of marine invertebrates and vertebrates; plants and fungi begin to colonize land; mass extinction at end of period; 445-490 mya 
E) origin of life; photosynthesis causes oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere to increase; first eukaryotes; first multicellular organisms; 540 mya-3.8 bya
F)continents near present positions; increased diversity of flowering plants, birds, mammals, and pollinating insects; 2.6-65 mya
G)early dinosaurs; first mammals; mass extinction at end of period; 200-250 mya
H)increase in diversity of land plants; first amphibians colonize land; mass extinction late in period; 360-415 mya
I)large and relatively sudden increase in the diversity of animal life; increase in diversity of algae; first vertebrates; 490-540 mya
J)flowering plants begin to dominate life on land; mass extinction at end of period, including extinction of the last dinosaurs; 65-145 mya
K)continents come together to form Pangaea; reptiles dominate life on land by 265 mya; mass extinction at end of period; 250-300 mya
L)increase in diversity of fishes; first hints of colonization of land by insects and other invertebrates; 415-445 mya

Question 18

Which kind of organism makes up the oldest fossil found on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) protists 
B) animals 
C) bacteria 
D) plants

Question 19

Evolutionary tree diagrams representing the relationships between various organisms can be drawn only when those organisms share a

Accepted Answer

A) common cellular metabolism. 
B) distinct lineage. 
C) common cellular organization. 
D) common ancestor.

Question 20

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period.
-Cretaceous

Accepted Answer

A) repeated advance and retreat of glaciers; evolution of humans; extinction of large mammals and birds; 0-2.6 mya 
B) continents begin to separate; diverse dinosaurs; first birds; first flowering plants; 145-200 mya 
C) extensive forests; amphibians dominate life on land; increase in diversity of insects; first reptiles; 300-360 mya 
D) further increases in diversity of marine invertebrates and vertebrates; plants and fungi begin to colonize land; mass extinction at end of period; 445-490 mya 
E) origin of life; photosynthesis causes oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere to increase; first eukaryotes; first multicellular organisms; 540 mya-3.8 bya
F)continents near present positions; increased diversity of flowering plants, birds, mammals, and pollinating insects; 2.6-65 mya
G)early dinosaurs; first mammals; mass extinction at end of period; 200-250 mya
H)increase in diversity of land plants; first amphibians colonize land; mass extinction late in period; 360-415 mya
I)large and relatively sudden increase in the diversity of animal life; increase in diversity of algae; first vertebrates; 490-540 mya
J)flowering plants begin to dominate life on land; mass extinction at end of period, including extinction of the last dinosaurs; 65-145 mya
K)continents come together to form Pangaea; reptiles dominate life on land by 265 mya; mass extinction at end of period; 250-300 mya
L)increase in diversity of fishes; first hints of colonization of land by insects and other invertebrates; 415-445 mya

Exam 13: The History of Life

Which of these kingdoms share a most recent, common ancestor?

Why might many new species form in the aftermath of a mass extinction?

Briefly explain how new scientific findings may change the arrangement of an evolutionary tree while enhancing our understanding of evolution.

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period. -Jurassic

Resolving the relationship between the various kingdoms has been challenging because species often resemble one another. For example, the kingdom ________ contains some organisms that are animal-like and others that are plantlike.

Roughly 360 mya at the end of the period, a mass extinction wiped out 30 percent of animal families, including many fishes and trilobites. The terrestrial animals at this time would have included .

The mass extinction at the end of the Ordovician period killed

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period. -Silurian

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period. -Quaternary

What criteria best characterize membership in the kingdom Protista?

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period. -Ordovician

Which of the following statements about bird evolution is NOT correct?

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period. -Carboniferous

Which kind of organism makes up the oldest fossil found on Earth?

Evolutionary tree diagrams representing the relationships between various organisms can be drawn only when those organisms share a

Correctly match the definition with the correct geologic time period. -Cretaceous